Electrically controlled actuating device



Patented Nov. 7, 1933 V 1,933,694 ELECTBICALLY coN'rnomLEb aorus'rmoDEVICE Scottji. Allen and Ozro Wiswell, Los Angeles,

Cahi'., assignors, by

mesne assignments, to

C-O-Two Fire Equipment Company, Newark. N. J., a corporation of DelawareApplication April 30, 1930. Serial No. 448,673

7 w 12 Claims.-

This invention relates to an electrically-controlled actuating device,and it is a general object of the invention to provide a simple,practical, dependable device for generating pressure suit- 5 able foruse in various situations.

The device provided by this invention is capable of various uses andapplications. The device has been successfully used for actuatingcontrol heads of fire-extinguishing equipment, and particularly heads oncontainers of CO2 gas, and the like. For the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding of the invention, we will describe it as applied to thecontrol head of a fire-extinguishing unit, it being understood that suchreference is not to be considered as limiting or restricting the scopeor range of application of the invention.

Fire-fighting equipment employing carbon dioxide gas usually includes acontainer or vessel in which the gas is sealed by means of a penetrabledsc, or the like. A control head is applied to the container and carriesa punch or other device operable to penetrate the sealing disc when itis desired to liberate the gas. In our co-pending application entitledDevice for puncturing closure disc, Serial Number 208,'7-l7, filed July27, 1929, we disclose a control head provided with a cylinder and pistonmechanism'whereby the punch or seal-breaking device is operable by.fluid pressure.

The device provided by this invention is operable to generate pressureand is particularly suited for use in connection with control heads suchas we have just referred to. The device of this invention iselectrically controlled, and when actuated develops or generatespressure'in a manner to effectively and dependably actuate a mechanismsuch as a control head, or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an actuating devicewhich is simple and inexpeno sive of manufacture and dependable andeffective in operation. 7

It is another object of the present invention to provide an actuatingdevice of the character mentioned embodying a construction whereby in- 5flammable material employed for generating pressure is sealed so that itis not impaired by air or moisture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an actuating device of thecharacter mentioned which is electrically actuated and which effectivelyand permanently breaks the' actuating circuit upon the device beingactuated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an actuatingdevice of the character men- 5 tioned embodying a simple, eifective, andim- (c1.- co-ai) proved means of igniting the inflammable materiat'byjthe resistance element of the electrical control means wherebydependable instantaneous operation'of the device is assured.

It is another object of this invention to provde an actuating device ofthe character mentioned which operates without discharging solid mattersuch as fragments of ruptured parts into the mechanism operated by thedevice.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the charactermentioned with a modifler whereby the force or pressure developed uponactuation of the device may be modified when the full and direct forceis not required.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple, efiective,and dependable seal for the inflammable material employed in the device,which seal is formed and constructed so that it readily opens or isruptured by internal pressure, that is, by pressure generated throughcombustion of the inflammable material, but which will withstand highexternal pressures.

The various objects and features of our invention will be best and morefully understood from the following detailed description of a typicalform and application of the invention, throughout which descriptionreference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical detailed ,sectional view through a control head ona container of fluid under pressure, the head being constructed forfluid pressure actuation and being equipped with the actuating deviceprovided by this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal detailedsectional view of the device provided by this invention. Fig. 3 is anend view of the sealing cap embodied in the device', being a view takenas indicated by line 33 on Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a side elevationshowing the clamp ring of the mounting of the device taken as indicatedby line 4-4 on Fig. 2.

In the drawing we have illustrated the uppe or neck portion of a typicalcontainer for carrying fluid under pressure. The neck portion of thecontainer is provided with an enlarged threaded part 11 for receiving acontrol head and is to penetrate the disc 14, a stem 18 projecting fromthe punch into a cylinder 19 of the body, and a piston 20 on the stem 18and slidably fitting the cylinder 19. The stem 18 projects through theend of the cylinder .to a point beyond the body A where it is providedwith an operating knob 21. The assembly or unit including the punch 17,stem 18, piston 20, and knob 21 may be normally yieldingly held in anunactuated position by means of a suitable spring 22. In theconstruction illustrated the spring is arranged under compressionbetween the upper end of the body A and the knob 21 on the upper end ofthe stem 18. The head that we have just described may be operated bydepressing the knob 21 or by applying pressure to the upper end of thepiston 20.

The actuating device provided by this invention is suitable for use inconnection with ahead such as we have just described for generatingpressure suitable for actuating the piston 20. The body A of the head isprovided with one or more openings 23 communicating with the upper endportion of the cylinder 19 so that pressure can be admitted into thecylinder to operate on the upper side of the piston. I

The construction or device provided by the present invention includes,generally, a core 25 of insulating material, a mounting B for the coreincluding a body 26 and a clamp ring 2'7, a

pair of conductors 28 extending longitudinally.

through the core, a resistance element 29 connecting the conductors 28at the inner end of thement 29, a charge 30 of inflammable materialcarried in the cap 31, and a modifier 32 that may be used in connectionwith the other parts as circumstances require.

The core 25 is formed of non-conducting heatresisting, material such asbakelite, or the like. The core is round in cross section and isprovided adjacent its inner end portion with a flange 33 which presentsan outwardly-facing shoulder 34 and an inwardly-facing shoulder 35. Theextreme inner end portion 36 of the core is of reduced diameter formingan inwardly-facing shoulder 3'7 near the inner end of the core. Theconductors 28 are fitted tightly in spaced openings 39 extendinglongitudinally through the.

minals after the resistance element has fused.

The. resistance element 29 maybe a fine wire of suitable conductivityconnected between the in- I passed through it.

The inflammable material 30 associated with 4 the resistance element 29is preferably a powder that will ignite readily and which'will burn orexplode rapidly. In accordance with our invention the inflammablematerial 30 is applied to the resistance element onto the inner endportion of the core by applying an inflammable adhesive material such asa nitro-cellulose solution to the parts on which the material 30 isdesired and then applying the material 30 so that'w'hen the adhesivematerial dries the material 30 is effectively bonded in place. Inpractice we have found it practical to dip the inner end portion of thecore, that is, the terminal ends of the conductors, the spacer rib41,.and the resistance element 29, in a nitro-cellulose lacquer and thendip the parts in the desired inflammable material orpowder. It will beapparent that the binder or bond thus used is of itself inflammable, andtherefore'operates to aid in igniting the material 30.

The sealing cap 31 is applied to the inner end portion of the core 25 toseal the inflammable material against air and moisture. The cap ispreferably a cup-shaped part formed of a single piece of material. Thecap is made to fit over the inner end portion ofthe core. In the caseillustrated the cap has an enlarged rim portion 45 which fits over theinner end portion of the core so that its end engages the shoulder 35.By enlarging the rim of the cap, the cap is provided with an internalshoulder 46 adapted to seat on the shoulder 3'7 of the core and it isprovided with an external shoulder 47 adapted to seat in the body of themounting as will be hereinafter described. The cap fits tightly onto'the end portion of the core, and when the mounting is in place or set,air and moisture are completely excluded from the material 30. Inaccordance with our invention the sealing cap has a rounded orspherically shaped'end, andfiuliltable depressions or scorings 50 areprovided the rounded end so that the cap is not materially weakenedagainst external pressure but is materially weakened against internalpressure. We have found it practical to provide crossed scorings 50 onthe end of the cap as shown in Fig. 3 as this causes the end of the capto' readily open when subjected to internal pressure and yet does notmaterially weaken it against external pressure. This manner of formingthe cap not only accomplishes the function stated but also causes thecap to open without fracture except along the lines of scoring andtherefore without parts becoming detached. In practice we form thesealing cap of copper.

A charge of powder 30 is carried in the cap 31 to be ignited by theinflammable material or primer 30. In practice we use the same characterof powder for the charge 30 as we do in the material 30. v

The mounting 13 includes the body 26 and the clamp ring 27; The body isa tubular part, the inner end portion of which has an opening 55receiving the sealing cap 31. The middle portion of the body has anenlarged opening 56 receiving the flanged portion of the core, while theupper end of the body has an inwardly threaded part 5'7 receiving theclamp ring 27. A shoulder 58 is formed in the body between the openings55 and 56, which shoulder receives the shoulder '47 of the sealing cap.The clamp ring 27 screw threads into the threaded opening 57 of the bodyand engages the shoulder 34 so that the core 25 and sealing cap aretightly clamped to gether, It will be apparent from Fig. 2 of thedrawing how tightening of the clamp ring into the body causes the flangeportion 33 of the core to be forced downwardly so that the shoulder 47of the sealing cap is forced tightly against the-shoulder 58 in thebody. The. inner end portion of the body is externally threaded at.60 toscrew thread into an opening 23 in the body A of the control head orinto the modifier 32 which in turn is applied to the control head;further, suitably flattened parts "61 may be provided on the exterior ofthe body to facilitate applying the body. In accordance with the presentinvention the clamp ring is provided at its exposed portion with a notch65 which allows it to be engage and operated in one direction but makesit diificult, if not impossible, to engage it for operation in the otherdirection. The notch 65 is designed so that the ring can be easilyoperated to tighten it into the body but cannot be operate'd to removeit from the body. In practice the clamp ring is made very tight in thebody when the device is assembled so that extreme force will have to beapplied to it to remove it, making it apparent or evident that thedevice has been tampered with.

The modifier 32 is intended to be used when the full force or power ofthe device is not needed. The modifier is a tubular member internallythreaded at one end to receive the threaded part 60 of the mounting Band provided with an extemally threaded projection '70 at the other endto fit the opening 23 of the head. The'opening '71 through the modifieris.fairly.large in diameter so that it forms an expansion chamber. Theopening 73 through the threaded projection is comparatively small sothat it operates to check or retard the discharge of pressure from themodifier into the head to which the device is applied. In accordancewith the present invention a sleeve '74 is set in the reduced threadedpart 70 and has its inner end portion projecting into the expansionchamber or large opening 71 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 2. Theinner end of the sleeve 74 is beveled so that any part or objectstriking it is deflected away from the opening through which thepressure is discharged. By providing a projection of this character inthe expansion chamber, any part, such as a part of the sealing cap thatmay become dislodged asf a result of the force of the ignition of thematerial 30, will be caught in the large opening 71 of the modifier andwill not lodge in the outlet opening in a manner to interfere with theoperation of the device.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the device maybe applied to a control head, or the like, with or without the modifier32. When it is desired to actuate the control head, suitable currentpassed through the element 29 will cause theinfiammable material 30 andcharge of powder 30 to burn or explode, opening the sealing cap andallowing the discharge of pressure into the cylinder of the control headto force the piston downwardly so that the punch penetrates the sealingdisk. The cap acts to cause a high pressure to be developed or built upbefore pressure enters the body to act on the piston. We have found thatby thus employing a cap we obtain a pressure condition which causes thepiston to be operated even though the head or body may have severaloutlets. Further, by our construction we obtain substantially completebuming of the charge. In the event that the control head to which thedevice is connected is connected in a battery or installation includingother device ing the device alwaysin condition for operation.

Having described only a typical preferred form of our invention, we donot wish to limit ourselves to the specific details set forth, but wishto reserve to ourselves any changes or variations that may appear tothose skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the followingclaims:

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. An actuating device of the character described including, a core ofinsulating material, a permanent body carrying'the core and adapted tobe mounted on the device to be actuated, spaced conductors extendinglongitudinally through the core, rneans holding the core in the body afusible elementconnecting-the conductors at the inner end of the core, acombustible charge at the fusible element, the charge being fixed to theelement, and a frangible cap at an end of the body attached to the coreand encasing the element and combustible charge.

2. A device of the character described including a body, a frangible capon the body, an inflammable charge carried in the cap, a modifierattached to the body and confining the cap, the modifier having arestricted outlet opening, and a tubular part in the outlet openingprojecting toward the body to prevent parts of the cap from clogging theoutlet opening when the cap is broken by ignition of the charge.

3. A device of the character described including a body, a frangible capon. the body, an in-= "longitudinally through the core, a fusibleelement connecting the conductors at the inner end of the core, acombustible charge at the element, and a frangible cap on the inner endof the core sealing the combustible charge, the body being screwtlgrgaded for attachment to the device to be actua e 5. An actuatingdevice of the character described including, a permanent tubular body, acore of dielectric material attached to and extending into the body,spaced conductors extending longitudinally through the core, a fusibleelement connecting the conductors at the inner end of the core, acombustible charge at the element,

and a frangible cap on the inner end of the core sealing the combustiblecharge, the cap having a spherical outer end scored so as to rupturewithout disintegration upon ignition of the charge.

6. An actuating device of the character described including, a tubularbody to be mounted at an opening in the device to be actuated, a coreextending into the outer end of the body, a clamp ring surrounding thecore and attaching the core to the body, the core and ring closing theouter end of the body, a combustible charge at the inner end of thecore, means carried by the core for igniting the charge, and a frangiblecap on the inner end of the core enclosing the charge, the cap having aspherical end so as to withstand high external pressures.

7. Adevice of the character described including, a tubular body adaptedto be arranged in an opening in a device to be actuated, a core ofinsulating material extending into the body, a cap on the inner end ofthe core,.'an inflammable charge in the cap, the body being such thatitis not destruotible by said charge, and means holding the .core in thebody and clamping the cap on the end,of the core.

' -8. A device of the character described includ- I not destructible bysaid charge, and means holding the core in the body and clamping the capon the end of the core, the cap being scored to fracture when the chargeis ignited.

9. A device of the character described including, a tubular body adaptedto be arranged in an opening in a device to be actuated, a core ofinsulating material extending into the body, a frangible cap on theinner end of the core, an inflammable charge in the cap, the body beingsuch that it is not destruotible by said charge, and means holding thecore in thebody and clamp- .ing the cap on the core including a shoulderin the body, and a ring threaded to the outer end of the body andholding the core in a position where the cap is clamped between theshoulder and the core.

10. A device of the character described including, a tubular bodyadapted to be arranged in an opening in a device to be actuated, a coreof insulating material extending into the body, a cap on the inner endof the core, an inflammable charge in the cap, the body being such thatit is not destructible by said charge, and means holding the core in thebody and clamping the cap on the end of the core, the end of the capbeing spherically rounded and scored to fracture without disintegrationwhen the charge is ignited.

11. A device of the character described including, a tubular bodyadapted'to bearranged in an opening of a device to be actuated, a core'of insulating material extending into the body, a

frangible cap on the inner end of the core, means holding the core inthe body and clamping the cap on the core, an electrical conductorextending through the core to a point within the cap, an element in thecap fusible by current passed through the conductor, and a combustiblecharge in the cap flxed to the said element.

12. An actuating device of the character described, including apermanent tubular body, a core of dielectric material attached to andextending into the body, spaced conductors extending longitudinallythrough the core, a fusible element connecting the conductors at theinner end of the core, a combustible charge at the element, a frangiblecap on the inner end of the core sealing the combustible charge, aninternal shoulder in the body, and a ring threaded to the bodyandclamping the core in the body in a position where the cap is clampedbetween the end of the core and said shoulder.

sco'r'r E. ALLEN.

OZRO N. wIswELL.

